Pen pals form friendship

Published 8:00 pm, Monday, January 7, 2002

It all began when Mark Potts, a Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Bulgaria, asked the residents of the Shoumen Pensioners Home if they would like to write to people in the United States.

Potts, of Midland, asked his mother, Daria, if she knew of a group of seniors that would be interested in writing to seniors in Bulgaria.

Daria immediately thought of a group of writers at Riverside Place. She contacted Jane Kehlenbeck, the activities director. She asked group members if they were interested. They were interested and enthusiastic.

The seniors at Riverside wrote to their new pen pals last February. They described their hometown and their housing. They asked questions about what kind of food they eat in Shoumen, what their transportation is like and what kinds of recreation they enjoy.

The seniors in Shoumen wrote back in March and described some of their daily routines.

They said they get a bath once a week and every other week they have their sheets changed. They eat meat three times a week and fish once a week. If they want to go somewhere, they ask permission. They travel by bus or taxi if they have money. Most people do not have much money.

Seniors accepted into the Shoumen Home must meet certain requirements. They must be retired. Those who do not have homes or help from their children are given first priority. Residents must pay 70 percent of their pensions to the home. A senior might have the equivalent of four to eight U.S. dollars left for the month to buy medicine and miscellaneous. Most do not have access to a telephone.

Information exchanged in the letters has helped both sides understand the customs and cultures of the other. The Riverside seniors watch for news items and information on the Internet about Bulgaria so they can learn more and discuss what they find.

Last week, Riverside seniors had an opportunity to learn more about their new friends when Potts visited Midland.

He delivered gifts sent by the Shoumen pen pals - a small woven linen of bright red, black and green and a vial of rose oil. The Riverside seniors were thrilled to receive them.

Potts also brought with him a videotaped tour of the Shoumen Pensioners Home. The Riverside seniors were eager to ask questions.

"What was the reaction in Shoumen to the Sept. 11 attack on America?"

"I was very touched," Potts said. "They were very concerned. During the International Day of Mourning, we went outside and lit candles and had three minutes of silence. The local officials continued to check on all the Americans there to offer support and to make sure we felt safe."

The women wanted to know what Bulgarians think of Americans in general.

"It's difficult for them to get an accurate image of Americans because what they learn about us is mainly from movies and television," Potts said.

He played the video and women were drawn to the images before them. They were, at once, concerned about the conditions of the Shoumen Home.

The first things Midland seniors noticed were the lack of handrails and condition of the outside steps. They are steep and, in some spots, the concrete is crumbling.

Paint is peeling off the walls in most rooms and the bathroom and shower facilities are small - to be shared by many residents.

"The problem is the entire infrastructure is that way - homes, hospitals and the schools aren't much better," Potts said. "It would cost way too much to fix everything."

An especially bright spot in the video was a group of Bulgarian women singing at a festival. They sang of their gratitude for the home they live in, while a man accompanied them on the accordion. When the song ended, the Riverside residents applauded.

The videotape originally was made to apply for a grant from the U.S. Embassy to fix the poor conditions in the Pensioners Home, Potts explained. Though the grant was given to a local hospital, Potts hasn't given up on his dream of finding funds to improve conditions for the seniors.

Nearly two hours after he arrived, Potts slipped on his jacket to leave Riverside. One of the women asked him, "What will you tell them about us?"

"Well, they know you pretty well from your letters," he said. "They're happy that you live in a nice home like this - they hope to one day live in a home like this, too."

"Tell them we're worried about the lack of handrails on the stairs," Mona Frame said. "My blood pressure went up 10 points when I saw that."

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Riverside pen pals made the following recipes, which were sent by their Shoumen pen pals.

"As they ate the food, they discussed the culture and lifestyle. It was a really fun afternoon," said Jane Kehlenbeck, Riverside Place activity director.

Moussaka

1 pound of ground meat (pork or a pork/beef mixture)

1 pound of potatoes, peeled and finely chopped

2 tomatoes, finely chopped

1/3 cup parsley (finely chopped)

1 onion (finely chopped)

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup yogurt

2 teaspoons flour

salt and pepper to taste

oil for cooking

Fry the onion and the minced meat in a little oil. The more fatty the meat, the less oil needed. When it is no longer red, mix meat mixture with the potatoes, tomatoes and parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bake in a casserole dish for about one hour, or until the potatoes are cooked. Stir together the eggs, yogurt and flour and pour it over the dish. Bake for 10 more minutes. It is delicious with cold yogurt on the side.

Shopsha Salad

4 tomatoes

1 small cucumber

1 pound fleshy peppers

1 onion or two spring onions

1 cup grated white cheese

5 hot peppers

a small bunch of parsley

about a coffee cup full of vegetable oil

salt

Bulgarian white cheese Sirene. If this is not available, use Greek Feta.

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Wash and clean the vegetables. Remove the stem and the seeds of the peppers (raw or roasted and peeled) and slice them. Cut the tomatoes and the cucumber into small cubes. Chop the onion and the parsley. Mix everything, add salt and mix again. Shape the mixture into a "hemisphere" in the salad dish. Add the vegetable oil. Cover with an even thick layer of grated white cheese. An olive, a tomato rose or several leaves of parsley may be added to the top of the salad. Add a hot pepper to each portion.